Positioned in the middle of the Mediterranean, the Maltese islands have always been a beacon of hope for weary travelers, well, except if you're a protected bird. Our partner, BirdLife Malta estimates that 79 species of protected bird have been persecuted over the last three years as these travelers pass over the islands en route to Africa or Europe. The pale-phase honey buzzard (right) was one of the ones I saw that didn't get away.
During a brief visit in autumn, the enthralling sight of hundreds of birds of prey pouring through on migration was tempered by the sadness of watching several of these birds dying at close quarters. Never before have I been greeted by the breathtaking sight of head-height raptors only to pray that they weren't so close. What I learned in Malta is that if the image of a flying bird of prey fills your binoculars, it's likely that a hunter will be sharing the same view reflecting down the barrel of his shotgun.
The picture of a young bird of prey dying on a vet's table is not a scene representative of a modern Europe. As a member of the European Union Malta has a responsibility to abide by the Community’s laws, including those protecting wildlife. Encouragingly, the majority of people in Malta believe this too. This week we are urging you - our members and supporters - to join us and our partners to bring these illegal and outdated practices to an end by sending a petition to the Maltese authorities.
These are Europe's birds and we believe that no single country has the right to flout international legislation or responsibilities. Geographically, Malta is on the fringes of the European Union; but, politically, the islands' government should aspire to take Europe’s wildlife laws to its heart.